There are many types of skiing, from the beginner slopes to cross-country and alpine, but one of the coolest (in our opinion) and most creative is backcountry. You’ll be hard-pressed to find good backcountry skiing on the east coast, but out west it runs rampant and most likely takes up the majority of a ski resort’s terrain out there. For skiers (or snowboarders) looking to ditch the freshly groomed corduroy of a designated trail for fresh powder and limitless options for lines to shred, backcountry skiing is definitely for you.

Before you hit the backcountry ski areas though, be sure that you’re advanced (it’s not for first timers) and at the bigger mountains check for any avalanche warnings. You don’t necessarily have to be capable of backflips off 50-foot kickers like Oscar Wester in the video from Outside TV below, but you should be prepared and a seasoned vet. For a glimpse into the world of backcountry skiing, this video highlights it better than we can.